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From Edward Fitch to Mr. Editor
[page 1]
Lawrence July 23 [18] 56
For the Hopkinton Patriot
Mr[.] Editor
Since the writing of my last (July 4th) we have had rather still times for this latitude; true some two or three men have been shot at, and, killed for going to Topeka to attend the meeting of the Free State Legislature, but such occurrences are so common here that they hardly cause a remark, except as showing how pro Slavery men are determined by all means in their power to harrass and trouble us.
A few days ago since two men got into some difficulty and one shot the other dead on the spot. The murderer has gone from here but is still at large and the occurrence hardly caused a remark here, used as we are to hearing of such things every day.
A part of Senator Douglas' subduing force, the U.S. Troops are still encamped around in different parts of the country to disarm all parties of Free State men found together but to let Pro Slavery parties go on. At least this is what they have done so far for I do not know of a single Pro Slavery party that they have disarmed, while I am acquainted with many persons belonging to Free State parties who have been disarmed by them. They were promised that the arms should be restored to them but when they went to the Fort to get them last week they were told that they could not have them and the reason they gave was that they were afraid they would be used if given back, so they kept them after having previously promised to return them, if applied for at the Fort.
We are looking anxiously to see what is the fate for Toombs bill in the House. If that is enacted into a law we may almost as well say farewell to freedom but we hope the 'House' will consider what it is doing and not pass such an atrocious bill; the Border Ruffians have got every thing prepared awaiting its passage. They, in conjunction with the Bogus Legislature, have driven out or imprisoned many of our men, have stopped parties and individual from the Free States for coming in and now if the bill passes they have hundreds in Western Missouri all ready to move over the line and camp for three months, so as to be included in the enumeration of inhabitants of the Territory and to vote and then they can return to their homes in Mo. or other states and need have nothing more to do as we are not even to have the satisfaction of voting on the Constitution thus made for us, but are to be admitted with it anyhow. This is called a bill for the 'Pacification' of Kansas. I think if it passes there will be some of them pacified with cold lead before it is done with.
Today a new act in the drama has begun to show itself. Mr. Fain, Dep. Marshall and commander of the forces that sacked Lawrence in May last, has appeared and put up the following notice to the people here. "I will attend at Lawrence on the first day of August next to receive lists of property liable to taxation in this county." And under it for identification he has posted an extract from the Statutes, Kansas Territory, which says
1st, "Every person who is liable to be taxed shall give to the Assessor a true list of all property which they had control of on the first day of Feb together with a fair cash value of the same."
2nd, "If any person shall neglect to give in such list and the Assessor shall be obliged to go to his or her house or place of residence to procure such list he shall be entitled to receive the

In a July 23, 1856 letter to the editor of the Hopkinton (MA) Patriot, Edward Fitch writes that “two or three” men were killed for attending a meeting of the Free State Legislature in Topeka. He says that U.S. Troops have been disarming members of the Free State party and that Border Ruffians have driven out and captured a number of Free State men. He ends the letter by stating that the people of Kansas will not allow themselves to be taxed by the Bogus Legislature.

Watkins Community Museum of History 1047 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS 66044

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From Edward Fitch to Mr. Editor
[page 1]
Lawrence July 23 [18] 56
For the Hopkinton Patriot
Mr[.] Editor
Since the writing of my last (July 4th) we have had rather still times for this latitude; true some two or three men have been shot at, and, killed for going to Topeka to attend the meeting of the Free State Legislature, but such occurrences are so common here that they hardly cause a remark, except as showing how pro Slavery men are determined by all means in their power to harrass and trouble us.
A few days ago since two men got into some difficulty and one shot the other dead on the spot. The murderer has gone from here but is still at large and the occurrence hardly caused a remark here, used as we are to hearing of such things every day.
A part of Senator Douglas' subduing force, the U.S. Troops are still encamped around in different parts of the country to disarm all parties of Free State men found together but to let Pro Slavery parties go on. At least this is what they have done so far for I do not know of a single Pro Slavery party that they have disarmed, while I am acquainted with many persons belonging to Free State parties who have been disarmed by them. They were promised that the arms should be restored to them but when they went to the Fort to get them last week they were told that they could not have them and the reason they gave was that they were afraid they would be used if given back, so they kept them after having previously promised to return them, if applied for at the Fort.
We are looking anxiously to see what is the fate for Toombs bill in the House. If that is enacted into a law we may almost as well say farewell to freedom but we hope the 'House' will consider what it is doing and not pass such an atrocious bill; the Border Ruffians have got every thing prepared awaiting its passage. They, in conjunction with the Bogus Legislature, have driven out or imprisoned many of our men, have stopped parties and individual from the Free States for coming in and now if the bill passes they have hundreds in Western Missouri all ready to move over the line and camp for three months, so as to be included in the enumeration of inhabitants of the Territory and to vote and then they can return to their homes in Mo. or other states and need have nothing more to do as we are not even to have the satisfaction of voting on the Constitution thus made for us, but are to be admitted with it anyhow. This is called a bill for the 'Pacification' of Kansas. I think if it passes there will be some of them pacified with cold lead before it is done with.
Today a new act in the drama has begun to show itself. Mr. Fain, Dep. Marshall and commander of the forces that sacked Lawrence in May last, has appeared and put up the following notice to the people here. "I will attend at Lawrence on the first day of August next to receive lists of property liable to taxation in this county." And under it for identification he has posted an extract from the Statutes, Kansas Territory, which says
1st, "Every person who is liable to be taxed shall give to the Assessor a true list of all property which they had control of on the first day of Feb together with a fair cash value of the same."
2nd, "If any person shall neglect to give in such list and the Assessor shall be obliged to go to his or her house or place of residence to procure such list he shall be entitled to receive the